Source: W. Rayson, Sir John Stainer, John
Troutbeck, eds., Words of Anthems. Second Edition. (London: Novello, Ewer
and Co., 1878), #567, p. 194. This volume is also seen under the title of Words of Anthems
Used in Westminster Abbey.

Rev. Webb
was a co-editor with Rev. William Cooke, Canon of Chester, of The Hymnary: A
Book of Church Song (1872), music edited by Joseph Barnby.
He was one of the Editors of theHymnal
Noted,
1851-1854.

Notes:

A beautiful adaptation of this exceptional
Anthem was sung by
The Mitchell Boychoir in The Bishop's Wife (David Niven, Loretta
Young, Cary Grant, 1947). There was a clip at YouTube of the choir's
performance, but it has been removed due to a copyright claim. Their adaptation
of the Sequence was:

Then pierce the sky with songs of
gladness Disperse the shades of gloom and sadness Your Lord is born this happy dayO sing to God your hymns of gladness

O Word of God for us incarnate,
O Word of God for us incarnate, By faith we hear Thine angels sing,Thy blessed angels sing their hymns,
Thine angels sing their hymns of praise to Thee their King. We join with them in adoration,
We join with them in adoration. We pour to Thee our supplication That Thou would grant us, Lord, salvation.

Directed, as they were, by an angel, it is no
surprise that the choir came to its feet as it sang "Thine angels sing
their hymns of praise to
Thee their King." And for me, each time that I see this video, I am brought
to tears of joy when I join the boys in singing: "We join with them in adoration."

The song can also be streamed or
downloaded from the Boy Choirs web site for the
Mitchell Boy Choir (together with three songs from “Going My Way” with Bing
Crosby, including Ave Maria). The choir, under the direction
of Robert Mitchell, appeared in over 100 films.

Soloist (Soprano):
O sing to God your hymns of gladness
Ye loving hearts your tribute pay
Your Lord is born this happy day
Then pierce the sky with songs of gladness
Disperse the shades of gloom and sadness
The Lord is born this happy day
O sing to God your hymns of gladness.

Chorus:
O sing to God your hymns of gladness
Ye loving hearts your tribute pay
Your Lord is born this happy day
Your Lord is born this happy day
Then pierce the sky with songs of gladness
Disperse the shades of gloom and sadness
Your Lord is born this happy day
O sing to God your hymns of gladness.

Soloist (Alto):
Mark how the Mother lulls to slumber
Her new born Babe with tenderest love,
And guards her treasure from Above!
O blessed Child, with her who bore Thee,
We, too, will kneel in faith before Thee.
O God Incarnate, we adore Thee.
O God Incarnate, we adore Thee.

Chorus:
O sing to God your hymns of gladness
Ye loving hearts your tribute pay
Your Lord is born this happy day
Your Lord is born this happy day
Then pierce the sky with songs of gladness
Disperse the shades of gloom and sadness
Your Lord is born this happy day
O sing to God your hymns of gladness.

Soloist & Chorus
O Word of God for us incarnate
O Word of God for us incarnate
By faith we hear thine angels sing
Thy blessed angels sing their hymns
Thine angels sing of praise to thee their King
We join with them in adoration
We join with them in adoration
We pour to thee our supplication
That Thou would grant us, Lord, salvation.

As noted
above, Gounod's "Noel" was a setting of
"Montez à Dieu, chants d'allégresse!" by Jules Barbier (1825–1901), which was an
adaptation of "Gesang der Nonnen" (“Song of the Nuns”) by Johann Ludwig Uhland
(1787-1862).

There are a number of performances of Gounod's
"Noel" at YouTube from Germany, France, Italy and
Holland, including: